Blizzard in Northeast Prince William Sound, Alaska

An employee of the Alaska Department of Transportation called the National Weather Service, reporting sustained quarter mile visibility and blizzard conditions in Thompson Pass. Additionally, the 511 site of the Department of Transportation reported Very Difficult driving conditions for Thompson Pass.

An Arctic low passed through Southcentral from the north from January 28th to January 30th. Snow chances and wind speeds increased as a result, particularly in the Copper River Basin from Paxson to Isabel Pass and Prince William Sound including Thompson Pass. Broad Pass had lower chances for snowfall, but a previous snow event meant that easily transportable snowfall was present in the pass. All three passes ended up in blizzard conditions between the 29th and 30th of January, creating very difficult driving conditions from blowing snow and drifting snow.